Things to Do This Weekend | LA Weekend Events Roundup

Weekend Roundup

Find the best Los Angeles things to do for the weekend of 1.27.11

EVENTSMichael Jackson the Immortal World TourJan. 27–29. Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour combines Jackson’s music and choreography with Cirque du Soleil’s creativity and literally turns his signature moves upside down. Jamie King, multiple Emmy Award and MTV Video Music Award nominee, wrote and directed the show; King, who in his early years worked for Jackson, has choreographed music videos and directed some of the highest-grossing concert tours of all time for artists including Madonna, Rihanna, Celine Dion, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., downtown, 800.745.3000. www.cirquedusoleil.com

Dine LAJan. 22-27, Jan. 29-Feb. 3. Enjoy gastronomic delicacies from more than 300 of LA’s top restaurants–Bouchon, Boxwood Cafe by Gordon Ramsay, Napa Valley Grill, Fig & Olive, Petrossian, The Bazaar by José Andrés and many more–for a fraction of the price. Restaurants offer specially priced three-course tasting menus, many for both lunch and dinner. dineLARestaurantWeek.com

The Great Chinatown HuntJan. 29. Race to find clues through one of LA’s most colorful, diverse and historic districts during the weekend of the world-famous Chinese New Year celebration. The neighborhood is a perfect backdrop for exploring contemporary LA: discover ancient traditions alongside experimental art; explore picturesque alleyways and traditional temples, bustling shops and hidden courtyards. 11 a.m. $35/pp, register onion for starting location. www.racela.com

An Evening With Joan RiversJan. 30. Legendary comedienne Joan Rivers needs no introduction. From her signature question “Can we talk?” (A Federal trademark) to her red-carpet mantra “Who are you wearing?” the woman who asks the questions gets the answers America—and the world—wants to hear. See her in this night of comedy. $75. Freud Playhouse at UCLA, 310.825.2101. www.reprise.org

MUSICLucinda WilliamsJan. 27. One of America’s finest singer-songwriters, Lucinda Williams’ substantial talents transcend the genres she works so handily with, from folk to blues and country-rock. After breaking out of the underground, she cemented her place in popular music with 1998’s Car Wheels On a Gravel Road. TIME magazine named her “America’s best songwriter” in 2002 and she’s won three Grammy awards. Her latest work, the emotional and evocative Blessed was released in March 2011 and was quickly hailed by many critics and fans as her finest work to date. UCLA Live, Royce Hall, UCLA Campus, Westwood. www.uclalive.org

WilcoJan. 27. With eight studio albums to its credit, Jeff Tweedy and his band of musical geniuses passes through Los Angeles in celebration of its latest release, The Whole Love. Wilco performs its last of three dates in LA at the Los Angeles Theatre Jan. 27. The Whole Love—a collection of 12 songs that ranges from bold rock to acoustic ballads to pop—has already earned many accolades including a Grammy Award nomination for Best Rock Album (tbd Feb. 12). wilcoworld.net

They Might Be GiantsJan. 28. Join They Might Be Giants for this historic anniversary concert. After two sold-out UCLA Live shows in 2009, Brooklyn’s alternative rock pioneers’ barnstorming show returns with a brand-new program in celebration of their 30th year as a band. This performance wraps up a 45-city tour of the U.S. in support of the band’s new album, Join Us, and is off to carry on their road show internationally. From their original Dial-A-Song service to critically acclaimed albums, TMBG have blazed a career path set to prove their creativity has no bounds. Opening is “geeky” folk singer-songwriter Jonathan Coulton. UCLA Live, Royce Hall, UCLA Campus, Westwood. uclalive.org

Mahler Project: Mahler 6Jan. 27-29. Over the course of the next few weeks, Gustavo Dudamel accomplishes the extraordinary: leading all of Mahler’s completed symphonies (and more) with two orchestras, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela. Mahler 6’s nickname, “Tragic” (never endorsed by Mahler), is closely linked to the huge hammer blows called for in the last movement. Mahler wanted the sound to be “brief and mighty, but dull in resonance and with a non-metallic character (like the fall of an axe).” The problem of achieving sufficient volume while remaining dull in resonance has proved a challenge to this day. $30 – $170. Walk Disney Concert Hall, 111 South Grand Ave., downtown, 323.850.2000. laphil.com

The TroubadoursJan. 27, 29; Feb. 5. Upright Cabaret’s American Icon Series continues their 3rd smash season with The Troubadours, celebrating the music of Bob Dylan, Carole King and James Taylor. Starring American Idol’s Jackie Thon, Matt Wolpe (The Buddy Holly Story), Yvette Cason (Broadway: Dreamgirls, Play On!, Stormy Weather) and Jake Simpson (Star Search Grand Champion, Oprah favorite). Expect to hear favorites like “Blowin’ In The Wind,” “Times They Are A’Changin’,” “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” “Natural Woman,” “Fire and Rain,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” and more. The concert is lead by by music director Gerald Sternbach with the Upright Cabaret band. www.uprightcabaret.com/events/

ARTEllsworth Kelly: Prints and PaintingsThrough Apr. 22. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art hosts the first retrospective of Ellsworth Kelly’s prints since 1988. More than 100 prints and five paintings from the prolific Kelly’s collection are displayed at the Broad Contemporary Museum of Art, exploring his mastery of grids, contrast and curves. LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 323.857.6000. lacma.org

Metropolis II
Metropolis II, artist Chris Burden’s latest piece, is a dynamic cityscape interwoven with elaborate system of 18 roadways, including one 6 lane freeway, and HO scale train tracks. In it 1,100 custom manufactured cars (think Matchbox or Hot Wheels) are attached by a small magnet, brought up a conveyor belt and then let go at the crest to (by the power of gravity) speed along the roadways at a scale speed of 240 mph. According to Burden (via LACMA’s website), “The noise, the continuous flow of the trains, and the speeding toy cars, produces in the viewer the stress of living in a dynamic, active and bustling 21st Century city.” Exhibit runs Fridays-Sundays. LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., 323.857.6000. lacma.org

EAT | DRINKSadie
Heat up your nights out in the heart of Hollywood at Sadie, Tinseltown’s newest spot for eats and drinks. Sadie is equal parts restaurant and lounge, sporting a market-driven menu of new American cuisine, and artisan cocktails in an ambiance that pays loving homage to Hollywood’s golden past with fixtures such as Victorian chandeliers that illuminate a vintage mahogany bar in the Parlour, and courtyard dining room where you can dine under the stars. 1638 N. Las Palmas, Hollywood, 323.467.0200. www.sadiela.com

Our TownThrough Feb. 20. Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe-winner Helen Hunt stars in this groundbreaking new version of Thornton Wilder’s iconic American play. Our Town tells the story of young lovers George and Emily, whose life in a small New England town becomes a microcosm of every day life. The wisdom of the play, rendered through a deceptively simple story, makes Our Town an enduring treasure of the American theater. This electrifying new production is directed by Broadway director and MacArthur Fellow David Cromer in his LA debut. Most of the seating for this production will be on stage with the actors. Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica 310.434.3200. thebroadstage.com

Clybourne ParkThrough Feb. 26. In this play inspired by A Raisin in the Sun, jokes fly and hidden agendas unfold as two vastly different generations of characters tip-toe the delicate dance of social politics, pitting race against real estate at the crux of two seminal events — 50 years apart — in the same north Chicago house. Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., downtown, 213.628.2772. www.centertheatregroup.org

WickedThrough Jan 29. Back by popular demand! L.A.’s favorite musical flies back to the Pantages this holiday season after a record-breaking two-year run. Called “A phenomenon that keeps growing” by The Los Angeles Times and “Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” by The New York Times, “Wicked” is the untold story of the witches of Oz and how they became known as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., L.A., 323.468.1770. www.broadwayla.org